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RailRiders outfielder Jake Cave produces no matter where he plays

RailRiders’ PNC Field hosting five high school games in seven days

<p>Matt Wotherspoon, a Crestwood grad, saw his brief stint as a starter end.</p><p>After a pair of starts with Double-A Trenton where the 24-year-old encountered trouble against Reading in both outings, he was moved back to the bullpen last week.</p><p>In one appearance for the Thunder on Thursday morning against New Hampshire, Wotherspoon tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings allowing a pair of runs and two hits while fanning four. He couldn&#8217;t get the last out of the ninth inning as the Fisher Cats loaded the bases. Jonathan Holder came in to get out of the jam and pick up the win after Trenton scored two in the bottom of the ninth to win, 2-1.</p><p>In 10 relief appearances with the Thunder and RailRiders, the righty has logged 25 2/3 innings, while allowing just two earned runs and fanning 31. As a starter for the Thunder, Wotherspoon went 0-2 giving up 13 runs in seven innings.</p><p>For the season combined between Double-A and Triple-A, Wotherspoon is 1-2 with a 4.13 ERA with 36 punch-outs in 32 2/3 innings and a WHIP of 1.07.</p><p><strong>Mike Papi</strong></p><p>The Tunkhannock alum has helped the Lynchburg Hillcats (High-A) open up a 5.5 game lead over Potomac in the Carolina League Northern Division. In fact, the Hillcats started Friday tied with Salem for the best record in the League at 31-16.</p><p>In a span of his last 14 games, Papi has reached base safely in all but two. He has on-base percentage .370.</p><p>For the season, Papi has a batting average of .236 with seven home runs (tied for third in the league) and 18 RBI. Helping the 23-year-old amass a nice on-base percentage is his walk total of 30, which is good for third in the circuit. He also boasts a slugging percentage of .450 and a .820 OPS.</p><p><strong>Ray Black</strong></p><p>The Coughlin grad nailed down a pair of scoreless frames last week for the Richmond Flying Squirrels, the Double-A affiliate of the Giants.</p><p>The 25-year-old tossed both frames against the Binghamton Senators last week striking out three and earned his first win of the season. He also gave up two walks and a hit in the appearances.</p><p>For the season, the right-hander has a 1-4 record with a 7.02 ERA in 16 2/3 innings. In those frames, Black has given up 13 earned runs on 11 hits and 17 walks, but has fanned 28.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Black </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_Black-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Black </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_Papi-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Papi </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_Papi-2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Papi </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_Wotherspoon-1-1-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wotherspoon </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_Wotherspoon-1-1-3.jpg</photo2><caption2>Wotherspoon </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Dave Rosengrant</p><p>drosengrant@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Dave Rosengrant at 570-991-6398 or on Twitter @tldrosengrant</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Local Focus: Matt Wotherspoon returns to the bullpen